London, June 2: Ringo Starr announced his European tour with a live press conference on Wednesday in Surrey, UK.
Ringo and his All Starr Band (Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Rick Derringer, Richard Page, Wally Palmar and Gregg Bissonette) performed briefly before taking questions from the press and fans.
When asked why he decided to go on tour now he said that it was simply the right time.
"I toured with the same band in America last year, it's a great band, great musicians, great songs, and we were approached to do a tour so why not?"
The 28-city tour, which begins June 4, is the most extensive European tour undertaken by Ringo and his All Starr Band. It is the former Beatle's first UK tour since 1998.
When asked whether Paul McCartney would ever join him on a tour Ringo joked, saying the offer is always there.
"I ask Paul every time I put a band together and I promise him 2 numbers just like everybody else, and he always busy at that time," he laughed. "He doesn't turn me down, he's busy. And I used to ask George Harrison 'do you want to be in the band' and he would say 'Ringo, you'd have to give me all the money.'"
The All Starr Band's European tour will visit the Ukraine, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, U.K., France, Czech Republic, Italy, Holland, Germany and Austria.
Ringo says there isn't one destination that's top of the list for him.
"They're all exciting, it's the gig that's important, and this tour we're doing 28 different cities and till we get there we'll see how much fun we'll have." AP
